Not since the famous Ferdinand in the 1930s has a bull fired the public imagination like Bruno.
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The big red shorthorn was born on Tamar Island about 1974, during the leasehold of the late Dr Dane Sutton.
Dr Sutton bred cattle as a hobby, taking them to market at around a year old.
Bruno had different ideas.
When his time came, he proved as elusive as the Scarlet Pimpernel.
He'd hide in the tea-tree and watch his cousins rounded up.
When spotted, he'd make a dash for the long rushes and disappear.
Eventually Dr Sutton had to give up.
Bruno returned to his mother and lived in peace, until Mr David "Horse" Ride sub-leased the island in the 1980s and decided to remove the remaining cattle for dog food.
Once again, human plans didn't quite coincide with Bruno's ideas for his future.
He proved so quick, even a bullet couldn't catch him!
Mr Ride's dogs would just have to go vegan.
Progress can't be stopped for long, however, and not even Bruno could stand up against the power of the state.
Dr Sutton gave up his lease and handed the island back to the Parks and Wildlife Service, who decided to open it up for public recreation.
In 1994 the completion of the 1.5km walkway necessitated the demure bull's demise.
When The Examiner of July 2 reported Bruno's imminent appointment with destiny, horrified readers immediately took up a campaign to save him.
A lady named Lindy Phelps, possibly the bull's greatest advocate, began a Save Bruno petition, spending many cold hours in the mall collecting signatures, and the cause quickly gained national interest.
Even butchers were signing Lindy's petition.
The publicity brought offers from farmers to provide Bruno with a retirement home.
One proposal from Stuart and Katie Cuthbert was too good to refuse.
Their Whitehorse Park farm was on the West Tamar Highway just opposite the island.
On August 17 Launceston vet Dr Stephen King and 20 rangers and volunteers set to work to flush Bruno out.
It took time and many tranquilliser darts, but finally he was soundly asleep.
With immense effort they hauled him onto a trolley, hitched it to a farm quad bike and set off, first for the car park, then 500m up the highway to his new home.
There he was woken by Dr King's Jack Russell yapping in his ear and licking his face.
Bruno wasn't impressed by his new home.
The farm paddock was lush, but he had no shrubs and trees.
All the while he could see and smell Tamar Island - so close.
Sometimes he tried to get back, wading out into the river, only to get stuck in the mud.
He learned to bellow and summon Mr Cuthbert to drag him out.
In early 1998 Bruno died.
He was buried on the farm, still looking out to his beloved island home.